Over two decades after the original, Michael Douglas is making another sequel to his 1984 film Romancing the Stone. The first sequel, 1985’s Jewel of the Nile was a rather lacklustre movie, but the new sequel, which is called Racing the Monsoon, will feature Douglas’ Oscar-winning Welsh wife Catherine Zeta-Jones, as well as Bourne Identity star Matt Damon, so it promises to be much better. Douglas and Zeta-Jones will be relocating to Indian in order to film the sequel in Mumbai, Kolkata and Jaisalmer and the film promises to provide a real boost to the already-thriving Indian film industry.
It is thought that Racing the Monsoon will be an action adventure movie that tells the story of a diamond heist that takes place onboard an Indian train. The film signifies the first fully-fledged Hollywood-Bollywood co-production to date.
Ms Zeta-Jones said that she was excited about shooting the film and spending some time in India, she said: "I'm looking forward to going to India. Michael and I are developing a script that will be set in India. We will take our kids and all of us will come there, set up camp in India and shoot a film." Douglas also said that he was pleased to be going to India, declaring that he had been closely studying Indian culture. He said: "India is making a large impact in the US, be it culture, design, fashion or films which are splashed everywhere in the world. I have been closely following and studying Indian culture and I’m fascinated by it."
Michael Douglas’ own production company, Further Films, and Indian production house Percept Picture Company (PPC), which is co-run by Shailendra Singh - a friend of Douglas’, will finance the £30 million film. Ms Singh said: "Michael being a friend, had approached us to partner him and we agreed. Percept will raise the cost for the Indian part of the production." Michael said that he was happy to be working with the Percept Picture Company, he explained: "When the subject of films came up, Percept showed interest. As I was looking for partners in India to do films here, I was happy things worked out."
Ms Singh believes that making Racing the Monsoon in India will have a positive impact on the Indian film industry as a whole. She said: "With more films like Racing the Monsoon coming to India, imagine the kind of exposure, interaction and employment that will be generated for Indian technicians and artists."
Steve Carr is expected to be announced as director of Racing the Monsoon. His previous credits include Daddy Day Care, Next Friday and Doctor Doolittle 2.
